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The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
A girl walks past a burned-out car hit in a Russian combined air attack in Kyiv on July 4, 2025 (Danylo Antoniuk/Ukrinform via Getty Images)
‘I’m very disappointed,’ Trump says after phone call with Putin. “I’m speaking to President Zelensky tomorrow in the morning, and I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin,” U.S. President Donald Trump told journalists.
Zelensky, Trump discuss air defense, joint drone production amid Russian strikes. “Today we discussed the situation: Russian air strikes and, more broadly, the situation on the front lines. President Trump is very well informed,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Ukraine, Russia conduct new POW exchange. “Our people are home. Most of them had been in Russian captivity since 2022,” President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in a statement.
‘There is also good news’ — Ukrainian drones hit key military optics plant in Russia, General Staff confirms. Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s counter-disinformation center, said a drone hit the Azov Optical and Mechanical Plant in the town of Azov, Rostov Oblast. The facility reportedly manufactures critical components for the Russian military, including sights, rangefinders, thermal imaging systems, and fire control equipment for tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, ships, and aircraft.
‘Disingenuous’ Hegseth paused Ukraine weapons despite Pentagon finding aid wouldn’t hurt US readiness, NBC reports. A senior military review had concluded that while some munitions stockpiles, including precision weapons, were low, they had not fallen below critical thresholds, according to NBC. Still, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth opted to stop the shipment. This is reportedly his third such move since February.
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Ukraine strikes deep into Russia with drones, targets airfields after record Kyiv barrage. The Russian Defense Ministry reported a total of 42 drones destroyed, with 37 of them intercepted in three regions bordering Ukraine: Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk.
Ukraine, Denmark sign deal to launch Ukrainian military production on Danish soil. “This is a unique case of international cooperation for the Ukrainian defense industry,” Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin said.
Russia intensifying use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, Dutch intelligence reports. Dutch intelligence services, together with German intelligence, have found that Russia is systematically escalating the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces, the Netherlands Military Intelligence (MIVD) reported on July 4.
Russia damages Chinese consulate in Odesa as Chinese drone parts found in Kyiv following similar attack. China has not publicly acknowledged the incident or reported any damage to its diplomatic premises in Odesa.
‘There will be 1,000 units per day’ — Ukrainian commander warns of increased Russian Shahed drone attacks. Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, commander of the elite drone unit “Birds of Magyar,” warned on July 4 that Russian Shahed drone strikes could increase to 1,000 per day, prompting Ukraine to consider relocating drone production.
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Ukraine war latest: Russia pounds Kyiv with record overnight drone, missile attack, 1 dead, 26 injured
Explosions rocked the city of Kyiv for more than seven hours overnight on July 4, as Russia launched a record missile and drone attack targeting the capital and other cities across Ukraine.
Photo: Oleksii Filippov/AFP via Getty Images
Russia launches another horrific attack on Kyiv moments after Trump-Putin call
KYIV — Ripe cherries and apricots fill the stalls of fruit vendors, while people bustle about on a scorching July Friday. Yet just a five-minute walk from the stand, the scene shifts dramatically: a gaping hole mars the five-story residential building where the stairwell once stood.
Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos via Getty Images
Death of top Russian oil executive fuels fresh scrutiny of elite’s ‘window falls’
The unexplained death of a top Russian oil executive on July 4 is fueling renewed scrutiny over the rising number of high-profile Russian officials and businessmen who have died under mysterious circumstances, specifically, have fallen out of windows.
Photo: Sergei Bulkin/ AFP via Getty Images
Ukraine’s artillery braces for shell shortage as US halts aid
Human cost of Russia’s war
Number of Ukrainian children killed and injured amid Russian full-scale invasion jumps threefold in recent months. The latest U.N. figures show a threefold jump in the number of deaths and injuries for children over the three months ending in May.
‘Deliberately massive and cynical’ — Russian attack on Ukraine began as Trump and Putin spoke, Zelensky says. “Patriots and their missiles are real defenders of life,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said. “It is very important to maintain the support of partners in ballistic missile defense.”
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,024,210 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.
The number includes 1,120 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
International response
US did not halt weapons shipments to Ukraine, Meloni says. The U.S. has “reviewed” the components it is supplying Ukraine, but did not halt assistance, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
Germany reportedly mulls $29 billion tank, vehicle order to deter Russia. Berlin is reportedly considering purchasing up to 2,500 GTK Boxer armored vehicles and up to 1,000 Leopard 2 battle tanks.
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff pushing to lift energy sanctions on Russia, Politico reports. While Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is reportedly advocating for the easing of energy sanctions, others in the administration disagree. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum favors reducing U.S. reliance on Russian imports rather than expanding trade, according to Politico.
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